The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-19
TAM o,SHANTER.
The Legend of the Dead Lands" and
Recent Ghostly Manifestations.

Tor SeVefaI months past seems TO have been
the favored field for the operations of SUI
pernatural agencies. The first manifesto
ton sufficient to cause any alarm was at the
humble dwelling of Mr. j. H. Gildewell,
which nestled among the hills of ''Coon-
range So persistent was the ghost or
spook that the unfortunate inmates of the
little home We're forced to leave and seek
other shelter, but even IN their new quarters
they were harassed well nigh to distraction,
until finally the seemingly or really spiritual
happenings ceased as suddenly as they had
begun, his ghostShip leaving no record of its
race and no history of its country But
that it had been there and its presence made
painfully manifest the best men of that sec
ton will testify, and that its fame extended
far and near and that on its account that
whole countryside was aroused to the
highest pitch of excitement the whole
county viii bear witness.
And now from the southern borders of
the country comes a tale of ghostly vista
tiOnS thrilling and grueSome beyond concep-
ton. Not far from where the GAINESVILLE
and Mason's Mill roads iutersect each other
there lies a strip of low moldy land about a
mile in width and three miles long, the
greater part of which is covered with water
to the depth of from six inches to two feet. 1t
is full of dangerous qUagmireS and is known
by the suggestive name of Dead Lands. On
road leading to Springfield Tenn, there
stands an old, odd-looking stone structure
which has the appearance of having been
built century The tradition is-and it is
generally accepted as true-th8t many years
ago when civilization in this section of the
country was in its infancy, the land which
is now mostly under water and several feet
below the surrounding country was a
beautifully wooded plain covered with
a<r1tf n mot
more inviting or beautifully situated,
as then it was as much above the sur
rounding country as it is now below it.
Upon this spot party of emigrants from
the busy and burdened East stopped their
train and pitched their tents, finally con-
Guiding to remain Among them was a man
who professed to have had divine revela-
ton; in which he was told that to him and
all who should believe in HIM and accept his
teachings should be given the power to
triumph over death, and that when the
allotted time ON earth should end they
would be transported, soul and body, to a
land of immortal youth He was
the leader, as he was the father
confeSsor, of the flock which he had
gathered around them. By his efforts aud
under his directions there was built the rude,
though substantial, stone building before re-
ferred to, in which each night and morning
they were wont to worship. The building is
low and narrow, and in one end are still to
be seen the crumbling remains of what APP
pears TO have been aIude, altar. just inside
the doorway i'll an arch cut out OF solid
stone hangs massive hraZen bell, which of
all the ancient pile seems to have stood best
the ravages of time. After a few years,
passed chiefly in holy duties, there suddenly
descended upon the strange band calamity
so dire as to leave in its wake a wreck to
stand for all time as q warning to future
generations While they were engaged one
evening at their accustomed devotional eX-
erciSes there commenced a low, rambling
sound, the stone building began to culver
and rock from side to side like storm
tossed vessel Seized with terror, the wor-
shippers fled panic-stricken from the place.
The shock ceased after g while, only to be
succeeded later Oh by, another, and
then another, throughout the night.
When day dawned terrible sight met the
| gaze. All vegetable growth was dead and
| parched, as if it had been visited by a severe
| drought. The trees which yesterday had
| been waving in full pride of summer YER
dure were almost completely stripped of
their foliage and were withered and dying.
| The church, though severely shaken, was
| still intact, but leaned considerably from its
natural position. The primitive dwellings,
which had been hastily constructed Of logs,
were totally demolished and the stricken
colony, sickened with the sight, departed as
suddenly and silently as they had come,
! The surface of the earth had fallen so much
during the shocks that it now formed a
shallow basin instead of raised plain as
before.
Thus much for the tradition; whether or
not it is all true do not know, nor does any
other living man, but evidence of the truth
of part of it at least remains, of which
there can be no doubt. There is the strange
and mire, in which the oldest inhabitart
. has seen no particle of vegetation grow, and
in which stand the naked, dead tree-trunkS,
with cleaning arms outStretched like an
army of spectres. This much at least is
true, however it may have been brought
about.
The nearest residence to the dead Lands"
is that of Mr.. Gade Lee Bailey, than whom
no man stands higher in this county, ard
whose word is considered as good as his
| bond. About two weeks ago he had been
detained in Adairville rather late at night
and arrived at home shortly before mid
night. He had been to the barn to put up
his horse, and was walking slowly toward
the house when he was startled by the peal
OF bell, distant, clear, peal following peal
in regular and mournful cadence. Know
ing that the nearest church was seven miles
distant and that the tones were too full and
deep for farm bell, his curiosity was
aroused, and after listening a few
moments he determined to investigate
the matter Going to the stable, he
saddled a fresh horse and started off in the
direction whence the sound of the bell pro-
ceeded. After riding slowly for some min
utes he became conscious of the fact that he
was going in the direction of the Dead
Lands Immediately it occurred to him
that it must be the old bell III the stone
church. though he had lived there over
thirty years and had never known it to be
rung before. His approach to the edge of
the swamp lay through dense wood, and
when he reached the opening that gave a
view of the old church, the scene which
met his vision was one well calculated to
chill the bravest heart. Standing near the
edge of the swamp, the church is only about
$50 yards distant, the inside of the building
being plainly visible through the open door
way. The church was filled with n fierce
red light which streamed through the open
windows and out ON the black water of the
swamp Grouped in front of the stone
altar were dozen, or perhaps more, figures
which Mr. Bailey was wholly unable to
describe intelligently. FromE Is imperfect
description, however, it seem that they
were dressed in long, flowing hite gar
ments which chung closely 10 skelA on forms.
The faces of the figures were conce led from
view by black hoods which reached own TO
the shoulders. All of the body was
visible were the long feshless ybgersN Y ex-
tended beyond the sleeves Of the pes.
I +ha o1tnt. what onnparad 70 bO